Here is a smattering of some of my favorite articles…enjoy!

Life continues to be “truly outrageous” for Samantha Newark, the British born actress, singer and songwriter who is best-known as the speaking voice of “Jem” from the 1980’s animated series of the same name. Although it has been 30 years since she first uttered her famous, “It’s showtime, Synergy” command, Newark doesn’t shy away from talking about her favorite cartoon pop princess, her original music, and her cameo on the live-action Jemand the Holograms movie. “Jem was a magical thing that doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it really resonates with people,” she said. “Jem has good values, catchy music as well as the fashion and fun that speaks to the heart of everyone.” Newark began her professional career at the age of seven, recording her first single “Jimbo, Jimbo” for Nitty Gritty Records while living in Africa with her parents. The family immigrated to the US when Newark was 10 and she immediately signed with International Creative Management. She hit the state fair circuit and opened for artists such as Eddie Rabbitt, Pat Boone, Debbie Boone and Mac Davis.As a teenager she auditioned for the role of Jem and was cast alongside Britta Phillips who provided the musical vocals for the character. (The two never worked together and did not meet face-to-face for 20 years.) The show centered on orphaned music executive Jerica Benton and her alter-ego Jem who is the mysterious lead singer of The Holograms. Jem debuted in 1985 and became a huge hit with the MTV generation who made it the Number 1 syndicated cartoon series in 1986 and 1987. The show was cancelled in 1988 when the line of dolls created in connection with the series failed to sell as well as parent company Hasbro hoped they would. Newark’s career continued to flourish though with voice over performances in The Transformers animated series as well as the Steven Speilburg film Hook as the voice of Peter Pan’s mother. She also continued to write and perform music and some of her original songs have been heard on shows such as Smallville, Gossip Girl, Reba and Laguna Beach among others. Newark recently finished a two-year tour with US Bricks, a dallas-based Pink Floyd tribute band that plays to sold out crowds and is currently working on a follow up album to her last release Something Good. “It’s going to be a dance album so I am sorting out songs for that as well as songs that might be right for other people,” she said. “I am so lucky to be in the business that I enjoy so much and I am just going wherever the love is. There is such support for my work and I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity that comes along.” Of course no matter where she goes, fans of Jem never let her forget that she is still the original pink-haired rocker and when given the opportunity to appear in the live-action adaptation, she couldn’t resist the chance to rejoin Jem’s world once again. “They did a great job with the movie. It has all of the heart and values of the original animated series,” she said, sounding suspictiously like her cartoon counterpart. Newark has been making personal apearances in connection with the movie, at various fan conventions, celebrations for show creator Christy Marx, and launch events for new Jem-related products at Target, Sephora and more. “It’s funny how my fans used to eat their breakfast cereal while watching the show and now I hear about them having cocktails and binge-watching Jem on Netflix,” she said. “I know I am lucky to be part of the legacy of Jem and I am grateful to the fans who still connect to the character. They have kept Jem alive and I think that’s awesome!”

Henry Winkler dishes on 'Happy Days' and more during recent visitSenior Life October 2014Julie Young

Long before bringing “The Fonz” to life on the long-running hit TV series Happy Days, Henry Winkler was a child who struggled in school, was told he would never achieve anything, nicknamed “dumb dog” by his parents and encouraged to trade in his dream of acting for the family lumber business. “I didn’t want to sell wood. The only wood I was interested in was (Hollywood),” he said. During a recent visit to the Barrington of Carmel, Winkler reflected on his diverse career as well as the character that made him into a global phenomenon, his learning disabilities, and working alongside the late Robin Williams who made his television debut on Winkler’s show. “It was like standing in the middle of the fireworks,” he said. “He never did his lines the same way twice and I quickly realized that I was in the presence of greatness. My only job that week was to keep a straight face.” As the son of Jewish immigrants who escaped Nazi Germany, Winkler grew up on the west side of New York where he struggled academically and suffered at the hands of adults who failed to recognize his learning challenges at an early age. Despite his scholastic limitations, Winkler graduated high school and received his bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in 1967. He was later accepted into Yale School of Drama and earned his MFA in 1970. After working in commercials and completing other small acting gigs, Winker saved enough money to go to California where he auditioned for a number of roles including the part of a tough guy from Milwaukee set in the 1950s. The character’s name was Arthur Fonzerelli. “They said, ‘Would you like to play this character?’ and I told them if they would let me show the emotional side to this guy I’d be happy to. I had 10 great years of going ‘ayyyy,’” he said, referring to his famous catchphrase. The Fonz was more than a character. He was an icon. He could snap his fingers and get a date. He could manipulate technology with a bump or a nudge. He could jump a shark, ride a bull, pull his friends out of a jam and do it all without a single hair falling out of place. The Fonz was everything Winkler wasn’t and although it was the role that won over his once-hesitant parents, he said he would have preferred to have had their support while he was a scared and confused child rather than after achieving success. Winkler learned he was dyslexic at the age of 31 after having his own son tested for learning disabilities. He said it was liberating to know there was a name for his deficiency and tools to help dyslexics combat the challenges that come with their everyday lives. Though he continued to act beyond “Happy Days” and produced popular shows such as “Sightings” and “MacGyver,” in 2003 Winkler began writing what would become the best selling Hank Zipzer series of children’s books, which center around a fourth grade dyslexic. “We have 26 novels already and we are working on the 27th now,” he said. “We also have ‘Here’s Hank’ which is geared for second graders and uses a new font developed by a Dutch father that is easy for dyslexics to read and track.” Winkler said it is important for children to realize what they are capable of and given the tools they need in order to achieve. During his talk, he encouraged parents, grandparents and anyone who can donate their time to get involved and help children meet their challenges head on. “One out of five children has a learning challenge and our job is to make sure these children’s self-image is buoyed. You don’t have to tell them they aren’t doing well in school, believe me, they know. But if you figure out how they learn best, the powerful child will figure things out and they will be OK.”

Serena Williams: Tennis great reflects on her careerSenior Life October 2014 (U.S. Open celebratory story!) By JULIE YOUNGFeature Writer

Although it has always been her favorite grand slam tournament, winning the U.S. Open was anything but a guarantee for tennis champion Serena Williams. A fourth round loss at the Australian Open set the tone for what would be a disappointing year for the iconic athlete. She was bounced early from the French Open at Roland Garros in the spring and after losing in her third round singles match at Wimbledon, she fell ill with a viral infection during a doubles match and had to withdraw from the tournament. Williams took time off after the grass season to recuperate, re-energize and reflect on her place in the annals of tennis and when Senior Life caught up with her at the Western & Southern Open in August, the World Number One women’s player said she refused to give into the pressure of winning an historic 18th Grand Slam title. And preferred to concentrate on the match in front of her. “I have won it (the U.S. Open) several times. I don’t need to go to New York and win it again. I don’t need to prove anything and that’s great … even if I lose, of course I will be disappointed, but at the end of the day I will have accomplished a lot of the things that I have wanted to accomplish,” she said. “I’m just going to keep going and keep working really hard and do whatever it takes to be the best that I can be.” Williams won the Cincinnati tournament which gave her the confidence to go into New York and dominate the U.S. Open, beating her good friend Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3 in the 75-minute championship match. Not only did the win give Williams her sixth U.S. Open title, but enabled her to finally join the ranks of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova who have won 18 grand slam titles each. The pair presented Williams with an 18K gold Tiffany tennis bracelet after the match. “This sport has given me so much more than I could ever dream of and more than I could ever ask for,” she said. Even though she is argued to be the greatest female tennis player of all-time, don’t expect Williams to leave the game any time soon or let grass grow under her feet when she is not on the court. Following the U.S. Open she debuted a new line of affordable clothing (sold through HSN) at New York’s Fashion Week, she supports a number of charitable organizations such as UNICEF, World Education, Elton John’s AIDS Foundation, Build African Schools and started her own school in Kenya through the Serena Williams Foundation. She also believes in mentoring new players as they come along knowing when her spotlight fades, the tennis world will need the next great female champion to root for. “There are so many people who want to do well and be great on the court and I think that in order to be great you have to open up your mind and help other people because it’s exciting to see so many good players, so many good women athletes who are so amazing and will help keep the sport growing,” she said.

Senior Life Feb. 2014Grand Slam champion Lendl among those to play in PowerShares SeriesBy Julie YoungFeature Writer

Ivan Lendl said he is looking forward to facing his long-time foes John McEnroe, Jim Courier and Mark Philippoussis during the PowerShares QQQ Challenge coming to Banker’s Life Fieldhouse Feb. 14. “I enjoy these events because the tennis is good and we try to put on an entertaining show for the crowd,” he said. “It should be a good series, which is why I am playing a bit more this year.” The 2014 PowerShares Series is a competitive tennis circuit featuring legendary tennis icons and world-renowned champions facing off in a 12-city tour of one-night tournaments and sharing their expertise in exclusive clinics with VIP guests. Lendl, born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, spent 17 years on the ATP Tour competing in a total of 19 Grand Slam singles finals and taking home two Australian, three French and three U.S. Open championships along the way. He spent a total of 270 weeks at number one in the world and became a U.S. citizen before retiring due to chronic back pain in 1994. During retirement, Lendl devoted his time to his wife and five daughters and turned his competitive interests to golf where, after a developmental period on the Moonlightgolf.com Tour, he captured four wins on the Celebrity Players Tour. He also made a number of appearances for charity, established his own tennis academy and made his debut in the sports promotion industry with the sold-out 2008 NetJets Showdown at Madison Square Garden. After months of treatment for his back and training, Lendl made his return to the tennis court in 2010 during a one-set match against Mats Wilander in Atlantic City and has been seen in exhibition events ever since, as well as on the sidelines as the coach of current Wimbledon champion and world number three Andy Murray. “My training techniques really haven’t changed that much over the years, other than perhaps their consistency and intensity. I still work out in the gym, on bikes, and roller blades as well as playing enough tennis to keep sharp,” he said. Lendl said he knows he has to stay sharp in order to compete against his former rivals throughout the series. After all, they, too, come with impressive careers and plenty of titles so it’s hard to pick the toughest competition. “Jimmy (Connors) and John (McEnroe) are the most obvious, but depending on surface, altitude, balls and location, there were lots of guys who were tough opponents,” he said. “Mats (Wilander), Yannick Noah and Andres Gomez come to mind. As we get closer to the tour, I will step up my training so that I am ready to put on a good show.” The PowerShares QQQ Challenge will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. Tickets range in price from $25 to $200 with VIP upgrade available. For more information visit www.powersharesseries.com.Lendl facts:Born: March 7, 1960, Ostrava, CzechoslovakiaHighest APT rank: No. 1Grand Slam Championships: EightCareer highlights: 94 career singles titles, six doubles titles, five year-end championships and 270 weeks at No. 1Retired: 1994Current rank in PowerShares Series: SeventhBest tip for recreational players: “Work hard on your second serve.”

SENIOR LIFE NOV. 2013 Peter Davison looks back on the legacy of 'Doctor Who'By JULIE YOUNG Feature Writer

It is the longest-running science fiction show in television history. Since 1963, “Doctor Who” has traveled countless miles through time and space, has taken 29 companions on his adventures, faced more than 400 villains and has regenerated 10 times. This month, the BBC will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its iconic character with a new special and a new actor at the helm of the TARDIS. Peter Davison, who played the doctor from 1981-1984, said “Doctor Who” is a show that charted its own course and offered American audiences an alternative to sci-fi favorites such as “Star Trek.” “‘Doctor Who’ meandered through a story with a lot of twists and turns unlike shows that were more formulaic. It was a different world and I think Americans like the Britishness of it,” he said during an interview at the Who North American warehouse on the city’s west side. Davison was the first actor to play the doctor who also grew up watching the show. He said he remembered the first regeneration in which William Hartnell transformed into Patrick Troughton and wondered if the concept of a “reincarnation” would fly with audiences. “I always say that Patrick Troughton had the hardest job. No one was used to it and I can remember watching that show thinking I was going to hate it, but by the end of the episode, I was won over.” As an actor, Davison said he thought it would be neat to land a role on “Doctor Who,” but never imagined playing the doctor himself. When he was offered the part, only seasoned actors had played the role and he wasn’t sure audiences would accept a younger time Lord. “It took me a week to accept the part,” he said. In addition to playing the fifth doctor, Davison is also the real-life father-in-law to 10th doctor David Tennant. Both have confirmed involvement in the anniversary celebrations, but Davison was unable to elaborate on exactly what his role might entail. He said he is excited about the show’s golden anniversary and he is happy about casting of Peter Capaldi as the 12th doctor. (Capaldi will take over the show when Matt Smith leaves at the end of this month.) Davison said he thinks audiences are ready for a more mature doctor and the change in actor will not hurt the show at all. “I think the kids will love it,” he said.Peter Davison dishes “Doctor Who” in IndyFavorite doctor: Patrick TroughtonFavorite companion: Nyssa, played by Sarah SuttonOn the cybermen: “They scared me. There was always something dodgy about the Dalaks, but with the cybermen, you could see just under the plastic and it was creepy.”On visiting Indy: “I was amazed, I was sure I would sit around all day during the autograph session, but that didn’t prove to be the case. The people here are wonderful.”

SENIOR LIFE JULY 2013Whole lotta Heart —Ann Wilson is ready to rock Klipsch July 30 By JULIE YOUNG Feature Writer The last 12 months have been nothing short of phenomenal for Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson. In addition to releasing their 14th studio album “Fanatic,” and their autobiography “Kicking & Dreaming” (It Books), the Seattle sisters received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, performed at the Kennedy Center Honors and were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “It’s been pretty surreal,” Ann Wilson said during a pre-tour phone interview. “I’m still processing the rock hall of fame. I have the award sitting here on my desk so that I can look at it and remember that it’s real; that it really did happen.” Since their inception with the 1976 classic “Dreamboat Annie,” Heart’s combination of hard rock anthems and acoustic ballads were welcome additions to album-oriented rock stations throughout the world. The Wilson sisters transcended the late ‘70s to enjoy even more success during the MTV-driven ‘80s and continued to tour through the ‘90s while balancing their music with motherhood. On July 30, Heart will close out another month of topnotch musical acts at Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville that includes: Matchbox Twenty with the Goo Goo Dolls, the Jonas Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd with Bad Company, Bob Dylan and Blake Shelton. Wilson said Heart’s performance July 30 with Jason Bonham’s“Led Zeppelin Experience” would be a unique show that will highlight the best of both legendary bands. “Jason (son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham) is going to open up the show and then we are going to play our set with our band and then at the end, we’re going to put the two bands together and jam on some Zeppelin stuff,” she said. In addition to culling through Led Zeppelin’s catalogue in preparation for the tour, Wilson said she has been sifting through Heart’s diverse musical history to find a few surprises for die hard Heart fans. In addition to hard rock classics such as “Crazy on You” and “Barracuda,” there will be a few numbers that have not been played live since the 1970’s. “We always want to get some songs in there that true, deep Heart fans will be surprised by and love. I went and saw Elton John a couple times a year and he is one who never settles for a hits-only kind of performance. There is always something in there that makes me sit up and salute as an Elton John fan, so we try and do that, too,” she said. With more than 30 dates scheduled on the tour and a physically challenging set list, the pre-eminent vocalist said she works hard to keep her voice in shape on the road. She takes a lot of vitamin C, a good probiotic every day, gets plenty of rest and adheres to a healthy lifestyle. “I don’t have any secret, I just try really, really hard not to get sick when I’m out there. I have to live in a bubble, you know?” she laughed. “I have to mind how much talking I do after the show … that’s hard for me because I like to talk. I am a communicator. I like to sit around, talk, jam and have hootenannies after each show, but I have to let other people sing.” Every night isn’t perfect, but Wilson is confident her simple, straight and soulful delivery coupled with her sixte Nancy's harmonies andguitar licks will be a treat for the senses and she is looking forward to this summer of music and magic. “We are ready to hit the rock and roll campaign trail,” she said.